Oakland Raiders: 5 running backs to target in 2018 free agency
By John Buhler
42. . RB. San Francisco 49ers. Carlos Hyde. 1. player
Though he may very well return to the San Francisco 49ers on a second contract, the Raiders could be getting an emerging star at running back in the form of Carlos Hyde. While he is already 27 years old, Hyde might finally be entering his prime as an NFL running back. Could he be doing that for the Bay Area’s other NFL franchise in Oakland?
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Ideally, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will want Hyde back to help them contend in the NFC West. Hyde could be a Pro Bowler with Jimmy Garoppolo as his quarterback in 2018. In the last two years, Hyde has been within 100 yards of breaking the 1,000-yard threshold in a season. Keep in mind he did this for two well below-.500 teams.
The idea that the Raiders could land Hyde isn’t all that farfetched. He wouldn’t have to move to play for the Raiders in 2018. His former teammate in inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman could help him land with the Silver and Black. Hyde could be enticed to run behind an offensive line that has three perennial Pro Bowlers on it and a very good right guard in Gabe Jackson.
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Oakland would have to pay a slight premium to sign Hyde, but it won’t cost Mark Davis as much money as say Le’Veon Bell would. Hyde showed in 2017 that he is great at catching balls out of the backfield with 59 grabs. He could very well be the piece this Oakland offense is missing: a younger, dynamic tailback that can be a bell-cow for a contending team.